District reviews implementation of advanced-math law after 2018 rollout

Larry Chappell, a district curriculum presenter, told the Randolph County School System board that the advanced courses in mathematics legislation "is senate bill 500" and has been in effect since 2018. He said the law offers advanced learning opportunities to students who score a Level 5 on end-of-grade or end-of-course math assessments: enrichment in grades 3—5 and placement in advanced math courses in grades 6—12. Chappell said parents receive a notice explaining the placement and may opt students out by contacting the principal.

Board members sought details about how current course labels map to older terminology and how placement works. Chappell explained that elementary students scoring Level 5 receive services from the AIG specialist; in middle school Level 5 students are placed in clustered instruction, and a Level 5 in seventh grade can lead to taking Math 1 in eighth grade, which may count for high school credit and lead to honors math in later grades.

A board member asked how many students score Level 5; Chappell said he did not have full counts during the work session but estimated roughly 140 Level 5 students at elementary grades and offered to provide a detailed breakdown for the board.

Members discussed practical scheduling challenges, noting seat limits for Math 1 and honors courses and the difficulty of fitting qualifying students into existing schedules. Chappell and others said schools will work with counselors to accommodate eligible students. The presentation packet included a grade-level summary of how the district meets statutory requirements and letters that will be sent to families.

The board did not take formal action during the work session; staff said they will supply requested enrollment and opt-out counts at a later date.